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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP April 29, 1993 ~ CITY of ANDOVER SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - APRIL 29, 1993 MINUTES A Special Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Jack MCKelvey on April 29, 1993, 7:30 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota, to discuss the options available for traffic flow in the Chapman's Addition/Grace Lutheran Church area (Bunker Lake Boulevard and Round Lake Boulevard). Councilmembers present: Dalien, Jacobson (arrived at 8:45 p.m.), Knight, Perry Councilmembers absent: None Also present: Anoka County Highway Engineer, Jon Olson Assistant City Engineer, Todd Haas Others Mr. Olson reviewed the proposed county improvement project on Round Lake Boulevard from the Coon Rapids border north to l40th Avenue N. The issue is the area that goes into the service road on the south side of Bunker Lake Boulevard directly across from the Firstar Bank. Three options have been proposed, those being Zero, that is to do nothing other than construct the intersection with the service road; One, that -' is construct a road from Bunker Lake Boulevard to 13 6th Lane at an additional cost of $45,800; or Two, construct a road on the east side of the medical building just to 136th Lane but which would bend west into a driveway to the Grace Lutheran Church parking lot which would be an additional cost of $63,000. This informational meeting is to discuss the options. Mr. Olson explained the intersection of Bunker Lake Boulevard and the access to the bank and shopping center does not yet meet warrants to install a semaphore; however, all of the underground equipment will be installed with the project. It is anticipated the intersection will meet warrants within one or two years of the project. He also reviewed the flow of traffic from Highway 10 north along Round Lake Boulevard, noting traffic should flow very smoothly with the additional turn lanes and the timing of the lights. A resident asked if the speed limit on Bunker Lake Boulevard will be lowered, feeling the high speed is an enormous problem plus a safety hazard. Mr. Olson stated the county does not have the authority to set speed limits and explained the process done by the State. He noted the frustration over the difficulty and often inability to have speed limits reduced. There will be a sidewalk on Round Lake Boulevard, and one along Bunker Lake Boulevard across the church property to the service road. Steve Klinowski , 3512 135th Lane - asked ifa traffic study has been done on the amount of increased traffic if 136th is opened to Bunker Lake Boulevard. He felt people will come off Bunker Lake Boulevard to 136th to avoid the Round Lake Boulevard intersection. JõÝ\~ ~ err- J'jl'i5}f3 Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - April 30, 1993 Page 2 Mr. Olson stated it will not be that easy with six lanes of traffic on Round Lake Boulevard. He felt people would not do that, but that it would be easier to go through the intersection once the project is completed. Also, those northbound on Round Lake Boulevard will find it faster to take a right at that intersection rather than go through the neighborhood to get to Bunker Lake Boulevard. Mr. Klinowski - asked who is promoting the opening of Bunker Lake Boulevard to 136th. The citizens aren't happy about it. There are a lot of little children in the area, and they are very concerned about safety. He insisted a traffic study be done, feeling traffic will increase. The Mayor stated the church has requested that connection. Mike Steinhein - asked if the proj ect will require changes in the entrances and exits to the shopping center. Mr. Olson replied the existing exit will be a right-in, right-out. The exit on the far east by the bank will remain as a full access. He believed the access on Round Lake Boulevard will remain, though the northern one will be moved north somewhat to line up with the street across the road. Marnell Weber. 136th Lane - asked if the fire hydrant on the parking lot of the shopping center will be moved. She also recalled that at a past meeting they were told Quay Street was going to be closed. Mr. Olson stated the fire hydrant will be moved if necessary. At this point, Quay will continue to have an access. Once the project goes past it on Bunker Lake Boulevard, Quay will be a right-in, right-out street because of the concrete median. Dale Strassburq, 3422 136th Lane - is part of the group that petitioned previously in opposition to a street going through between Bunker Lake Boulevard and 136th Lane. The residents in Chapman's Addition are opposed to the through street mainly because of safety. They feel there will be a drastic increase in the amount of traffic, stating that traffic has already increased since the church reconstructed its parking lot and didn't put a gate to eliminate the access to 136th. Several months ago they were looking for solutions that would satisfy both parties where the neighborhood could be protected and the church would have its necessary access. They provided a plan, Option Two noted this evening, to provide access to the church parking lot but not a through street to 136th. He and many neighbors believe the church causes its own problems by not installing the gates l36th. It was the position of the City for years that the church would have access from the frontage road off Bunker Lake Boulevard. He reviewed some of the history related to decisions made previously regarding the church access from the frontage road, including a proposal of the church to split a portion of its property with that frontage road access. The Council has always agreed the neighborhood should be protected and has always resisted any attempts to create a through street to 136th. Mr. Strassburg claimed the proposal by the church tonight for the through street is the opposite of what they had proposed in the past, and the residents are confused. If the gates were put in at 136th as documentation shows, there would be no through traffic in their neighborhood or through the church parking lot. Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - April 30, 1993 Page 3 Pastor Steve McKinlev, 3701 153rd Lane, Senior Paster of Grace Lutheran Church - explained in 1988 the church was in a desperate financial situation, and the church agreed to consider a lot split to sell to Tom Gearhart for a funeral home. It was Mr. Gearhart's proposal to access the church parking lot from the service road, not that of the church; and he thanked the City for denying that request. They want to be good citizens and good neighbors and hope that this issue can be resolved amicably. He felt the entire debate hinges around the question of does there need to be an access street connecting Bunker Lake Boulevard with 136th Lane. The church believes there does, that such a road is in the best interest of most of the neighbors. Such an access should provide better emergency service into the neighborhood. without it the emergency vehicles must make a series of turns across traffic to access the neighborhood. As it is, they have come through their parking lot into the Chapman's Addition. He felt the safety in the neighborhood could be enhanced with stop signs at the intersections within the Addition. This would also discourage people from cutting through the Addition. A through street would also resolve a safety issue for the church, as it would cut down on the amount of through traffic in the parking lot. Pastor McKinley also felt the people in Chapman's deserve an access to Bunker Lake Boulevard for convenience reasons. Unfortunately, they now use the church parking lot as a through street. Several times they have tried to close off 136th Lane with a gate. The problem they have is keeping the gates up. Every time they put it up, someone tears it down. He has observed and witnessed that many of those cutting through their parking lot are people who live in Chapman's Addition; and Pastor McKinley went on to outline the specifics of his observations, including the placement of a "Garage Sale" sign placed in the parking lot pointing to Chapman's Addition. He also noted the problem with snowmobilers destroying the trees they planted on the berm build along 136th Lane. Pastor McKinley also stated a through street would be a financial advantage, that it costs about $14,000 less than to provide the driveway behind the medical building. Plus, if the Council does not approve the street as they recommend, their legal counsel will ask the District Court at the eminent domain proceedings to instruct the county to enter into a joint agreement with the City; and in such an agreement, the City would be required to pay all damages estimated to be in the amount of $200,000. They were assured that the original plan would eventually be approved by the City; and they designed their parking lot under that assumption. The Second option to access the parking lot behind the medical building would create a maintenance problem for them with no place to put the snow, and they would lose a few valuable parking places, bringing them close to being in non-compliance with the City's code on the number of parking places required. They are convinced a road needs to be built connecting Bunker Lake Boulevard and l36th Lane. Pastor McKinley noted two different petitions presented to the Council this evening favoring the connection of Bunker Lake Boulevard and 136th Lane. One contains approximately 175 signatures of Andover residents, and the other contains about 100 members of the church who live in other communities. Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - April 30, 1993 Page 4 Councilmember Perry noted several months ago the Council agreed that if option Two were done, the City would construct a berm to permanently close off 136th Lane from parking lot and plant large trees along the berm which would not be destroyed by snowmobilers. She felt that would permanently eliminate the problem of traffic cutting through their parking lot. She also believed the snow plowing issue was resolved, as it was said the City plows would need to turn around anyway, so the driveway would be plowed in that maneuvering. It was an attempt to solve the problem of through traffic for both the neighborhood and the church. She asked why the church would oppose that. Pastor McKinley had not heard of the City's proposal. Mr. Armstronq - stated he does the blacktopping for the church. with the driveway to the east, the berm to the south and trees on the north, there is no area for him to store the snow and a drainage problem is created. After further discussion, Pastor McKinley requested a short recess to confer with other members of the church regarding the City's latest proposal. Council recessed at 8:28; reconvened at 8:45 p.m. (Councilmember Jacobson arrived at this time.) Pastor MCKinley stated they are still not too enthusiastic about the proposal as they are left with two outlets from their parking lot, both onto Bunker Lake Boulevard. Without a semaphore at the intersection, their parishioners would be blocking each other when leaving the church; and the semaphores are not planned for several years. Pastor McKinley stated they would be in favor of option Two with the driveway behind the medical building if they could be guaranteed: 1) That the signals could be put at the intersection on Bunker Lake Boulevard as a part of the project; 2) that the proposed "private driveway" from the end of the access road to the parking lot be a public street that the City is responsible for; 3) that the drainage issue for the streets and parking lot can be resolved so water doesn't flow into the parking lot; 4) that the issue of snow storage can be resolved; and 5) that the corner of the access road and proposed driveway be lighted. The Council had thought the installation of the semaphores were a part of the project. They asked if they could be installed at this time, the cost, or even if a temporary could be put in at this time. Mr. Olson stated the City could petition for a signal. A permanent signal would be between $75,000 and $80,000. There is the possibility of moving the temporary signal from Roosevelt and Round Lake Boulevard to this location. That would be relatively inexpensive, guessing about $25,000. He felt the signalization of that intersection is workable. The Council agreed to refer the question of dedicating the driveway as a public street to the City Attorney for an opinion. Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - April 30, 1993 Page 5 Regarding the issue of snow storage, Councilmember Perry felt that is not a major issue and is not something the City should be addressing. Mayor McKelvey thought the City may arrange something for the snow. He also stated the City Engineers would work with the church regarding the drainage issue. Mayor McKelvey stated he will view the area in the evenings regarding the item of lighting for the corner. He thought it is possible the lighting from the shopping center will be sufficient. Mr. Strassburq - stated he lives on that street, and it is very well lit from the lights off the medical building. Phil Fredrickson, 13641 Heather Street - is not personally involved in this issue, felt there is some way to resolve the entire issue. He pointed out that with the number of people driving Bunker Lake Boulevard, a reduction in the speed limit is needed. But he is told that no one can do anything about it. He also suggested the placement of stop signs in the residential area to discourage through traffic. He suggested another proposal, that is to extend 136th Lane to Narcissus. Then the access to the church parking lot on Bunker Lake Boulevard and onto l36th Lane would remain the same. No stop lights would be needed. He also asked what alternative east-west roads will there between Round Lake Boulevard and Highway 65. Mayor McKelvey argued the intersection to the shopping center at the bank will meet warrants within a few years of the project anyway. He also thought there is a house in the way to prevent the extension of 136th Lane to the east. He noted a study is being set up by Anoka County to study all the roads that will carry both east-west and north-south traffic. Discussion continued on various details of the options, speculation on traffic flows and volumes, etc. Pastor McKinley stated the church would support the extension of 136th Lane east to Narcissus. Councilmember Jacobson also felt that option may be a good option. Sharon Widmark. Rose and 136th Avenue - stated she drove through the church parking lot once because she wanted to see where the road goes and comes out in relation to the service road. She apologized to those from the church for the people in their neighborhood who did damage to the church property and has talked to some of those people this winter regarding the destruction of the trees. She knows there are people who abuse the use of the parking lot, but those people will always exist. She felt Pastor McKinley was classifying those few abusers as being 100 percent of the neighborhood, stating she was offended by that. She had some concerns about the proposal to extend 136th Lane eastward, thinking people would still use the parking lot as a through street. She felt that if the option for the driveway behind the medical building is constructed, the City Council should be able to grant a variance if the number of parking places becomes a problem. Mayor McKelvey didn't feel the proposal would reduce the number of parking places below the ordinance requirements. If it does, a variance could easily be granted. Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - April 30, 1993 Page 6 Ms. Widmark - hoped the neighborhood and the church could reach an agreement, though not everyone will be satisfied. Their main concern is the safety of the children in the neighborhood and of the day care in the church. Pastor MCKinley stated it is good to know that some neighbors don't drive through their parking lot; but he believed there are many who do. He again stated they would support the proposal of extending 136th east to Narcissus, and they would put a gate at their south entrance to 136th Lane if the neighbors will agree to help them keep watch on it. Linda Robertson, l35th Avenue - stated if there is a gate to 136th and a median on Bunker Lake Boulevard at their north entrance, it would be difficult to access the church. Pastor McKinley felt a drop off could be provided at the sidewalk on 136th for the day care children. The gate would only be open on Sunday mornings. It was Mayor McKelvey's opinion that as long as there is an entrance to the church parking lot off 136th, the people would cut through the parking lot to access Bunker Lake Boulevard. He felt both sides could be satisfied, move the traffic safely, protect the children of the neighborhood and the people from the church with the Option 2 proposal, the driveway to the parking lot south of the medical building. Councilmember Perry also felt that could be worked out once the questions of the driveway becoming a city street and the lighting of the corner are addressed. She did not feel the issue of snow removal is something the City should address. Pastor McKinley asked for clarification on the City's proposal to construct a berm to close off their parking lot to l36th Lane and to plant trees on it. Mayor McKelvey stated that was the agreement reached at a previous meeting with the county under Option 2. A parishioner of the church pointed out that by putting in a driveway south of the medical building, they would then have no place to put their snow. The City would be taking away their existing place of snow storage, then is telling them the snow removal is their problem. For them, this is a big issue which needs to be addressed. Discussion continued on various ideas and concerns. Mr. Olson stated he would not recommend the shortening of the concrete median on Bunker Lake Boulevard to accommodate a full access of the church's northern access point. councilmember Jacobson felt that extending 136th Lane to the east would not mean additional traffic for the neighborhood, as it would be much easier to go through the intersection at Bunker Lake and Round Lake Boulevards with the double turn lanes. Marnell Weber - stated there was a road through there, and the traffic did go there even though it was a dirt road. The road was then closed off. If 136th were to go through, she felt the traffic would increase the same way it did before. Councilmember Jacobson felt the new turn lanes would make it easier to go through the Bunker Lake and Round Lake Boulevards intersection. Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - April 30, 1993 Page 7 Kevin Lind, 136th Lane - argued people going north on Round Lake Boulevard will cut through their neighborhood just to see if they can beat the people going through the intersection. He felt the people cutting through the church parking lot now are those that live south of Chapman's Addition. Mayor McKinley stated the traffic through the neighborhood may be reduced with the City's installation of stop signs at the intersections of the Additions. Linda Rasmussen, Coon Rapids - stated the new road will inconvenience her. She followed up on Pastor McKinley's comments that closing off the neighborhood to Bunker Lake Boulevard makes it more difficult for emergency vehicles to get into the neighborhood. Mayor MCKelvey stated that was addressed earlier, and the feeling of the neighborhood was they were willing to risk the few seconds or minutes more it would take for emergency vehicles to respond via Round Lake Boulevard. Linda ? l35th Avenue and Rose - stated people speed down the roads . , and do not stop at the signs. They cannot have any more traffic than they already have. It has been over two years since they petitioned for stop signs, and they are not in yet. Mayor McKelvey stated they will be installed this summer. Council discussion was on the suggestion to table the item to the regular meeting on May 4 to allow time to examine the issues raised by Pastor McKinley regarding the option of the driveway south of the medical building to the parking lot. It was also hoped that the two sides could reach an agreement, as it seems they are polarized right now. Mr. Olson stated they plan to open bids for the project on May 5, be under construction the first week in June, and complete it by the end of October. There are still some right-of-way problems that must be resolved, and the church is one. If the church does not agree, he did not think the condemnation process has been started yet. Pastor McKinley stated in light of what has been said this evening, the church would now support the Option Zero, that is not change the configuration proposed for the service road by the medical building. They believe the project should be done as soon as possible. They will give the easement to the county for the road construction but will need to go before the real estate commissioners to determine the fair value of the land. It will also be their intent to urge their legal counsel to convince the District Court to instruct the county to enter into a joint agreement with the City that the City pay for the price of the land, not the county. In that way the City does not need to build the driveway or put the road through to 136th Lane. The Council expressed disappointment in the position of the church, feeling something could be worked out for the benefit of all. It was agreed to table the item to May 4, to get an opinion from the attorney on the issues raised this evening, and to be prepared to make a decision at the next meeting. No public testimony would be taken at that meeting. Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - April 30, 1993 Page 8 Mayor McKelvey asked for a motion to close the informational meeting and to table the item to Tuesday, May 4. MOTION by Jacobson, Seconded by Dalien, to so move. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 10:01 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~~~:x:~ Marc la A. Peach Recording secretary